My niece's 5th-grade graduation

[Guaranteed]

I went to my niece's fifth-grade graduation and awards ceremony this morning. The children were moving on to middle school from that grade.

It was a great time, overall. The kids were excited about it being the last day of school, and most of them were given an academic or other kind of award. The teachers were obviously very emotional and cared about the kids quite a bit. It was a very nice ceremony, pretty typical of a 5th-grade graduation until the end.

The kids were to sing a song to end the ceremony. They had obviously been practicing, because they all knew the words, more or less.

I was pretty surprised when the teachers started up the song "Proud to be an American" for this final graduation gesture. Some of the parents suddenly got very excited and began singing along themselves, some standing up. Many of the kids seemed happy singing it, as well.

But, I gotta say- this was a 5th-grade graduation. What does being an American, or having pride in being an American, for that matter, have to do with the education of 12-year-olds or their pride in achievement?

Why is it that some people, the second they encounter a point of celebration, immediately turn to patriotism and pride in their country? It seems to me that this was a time for the children (and the children's parents) to be proud of THEMSELVES, not of their national origin. I don't have a problem at all with patriotic songs where they're appropriate- the 4th of July or other times where we're celebrating our country's history. I can even handle it at sports events, although that placement seems weird. I'm a patriotic American.

But a 5th-grade graduation? Come on. It was tacky as hell and showed a total lack of creativity. It was also forced and misplaced sentimentality. To all of the freepers out there, you need to learn something: There is a TIME and a PLACE for patriotism. It is not a fallback sentiment for when you don't know how to feel about things. Pride in one's country is great, but show it when it's appropriate. Not everything is, and certainly most things are not, related to national pride.

Those 5th-graders could have sung any of one of hundreds of songs. They could have even sung something silly, and it would have been appropriate. But, sadly, they had to sing a song about Americans dying for freedom. For their graduation to middle school.

So I was disappointed. Sorry, but I felt the need to post on this.

[bluerum]

1. Rampant nationalism. When the nation is bereft of leaders, the mobs form. eom

[Selatius]

2. Funny how people are proud to just be born into a circumstance in life.

Before my soul entered my body, I was screaming, "Fuck in Paris! Fuck in Paris! Noooo! You went to George Bush's America! Damn you all to hell!"

[Jade Fox]

46. In that regard, patriotism is....

the cheapest way to pump up low self esteem. You don't have to work hard for it, you don't have to be talented or charismatic, you don't have to be successful, you don't have to be kind, and you don't have to go to therapy and work through any painful issues. Patriotism is free self-esteem. Used to be you were occasionally required to go fight and die for it, but the Neocons have successfully routed that one requirement, so now someone like Dick Cheney can shamelessly wrap himself in the flag and get away with it.

[treestar]

48. True and a sense of logic says that one would be just as proud to be

Australian had one been born in Australia, so it's all a wash anyhow!

If I had been born in Kenya, I'd be just as proud to be Kenyan! Or Latvian! Or Russian! Or Trukese!

[elfin]

3. I am so sorry .....for the kids

Better Queens "We are the the Champions" from so long ago in their history.

It shows a complete lack of creativity or even consulting with the students.

Who chose it -- the administration, or the kids?

If the kids chose it, they have been indoctrinated -- for the time being.

It bespeaks the tenor of the times --- about six years ago.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Ooo, sorry, We Are The Champions is banned from graduations.

Apparently there was an homosexual in the rock and roll group the "Queen" and we can't be having that.

[orleans]

30. queen? queen??? can't do that. you know, it's the gay thing & the aids thing.

(i'm being horribly sarcastic here--just trying to speak the average mind of the average redneck educator)

america the beautiful would be a nice song--the song that SHOULD be the national anthem

[Divernan]

4. I agree with you - those "Power of Pride" bumper stickers creep me out.

As per the Christian faith, pride is one of the seven deadly sins, not a virtue.

[FuzzySlippers]

6. Damn you!!

Now you got me humming that damn song!! :mad: :nuke: :grr:

[napi21]

7. Can I ask at least what state this was?

I still fly my flag at my mailbox, and I like to think I'm a fairly patriotic person. I'm just very ashamed of our leadership and what it has done in the name of my Country.

I guess I don't really see any major problem with the kids singing "Proud to be an American", although I wish there could be another stanza added expressing how sad our current leadership is and things will be brighter in the future!

[Guaranteed]

10. It was in a pretty liberal state, and at a good school, which

made it just that much more surprising.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. I am an elementary teacher who thinks 5th grade graduation is stupid

Yes, we have them at my school. Ours was today also. But unless these kids are going to drop out and never graduate again, what's the point?

They are 11 or 12 years old. Yet we celebrate an 'accomplishment'?? WTF can a kid that young accomplish?

These graduation ceremonies just get more and more elaborate every year. One school in my district even went so far as to have a prom for its 5th grade grads.

Oh and I don't get the big deal about honor roll in elementary school either. So if you have one of those stupid bumper stickers on your car, I will frown at you as I drive by.

Oh our kids sang some dumb Whitney Houston song at their graduation today. If they had sang Proud To Be an American, I might have lost it completely. :)

[Midlodemocrat]

14. I totally agree. You're SUPPOSED to go from 5th to 6th grade.

It's not an accomplishment. It is a ridiculous waste of time to have these 'ceremonies'.

[nosillies]

15. OK, the song sucks, but I have a bigger question

I'm so confused -- when I went to 5th grade, I was ten. A few kids who had birthdays in the spring would have graduated when they were 11, but most of us were still ten. Are kids starting school at a later age these days, or could it be a state-to-state thing?

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. In my state, they have to be 5 by July 1

to start kindergarten. And some parents hold their kids out if they have spring and early summer birthdays. So yes, they are a bit older.

[NavyDavy]

16. and you say your a teacher.....I have never heard a teacher hate

students so much, that is just ridiculous kids enjoy it parents enjoy it so whats the problem.....we had them when i was in elementary and we also had dances....no harm done...

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. Hello?!?! Where did I say I hate students?

If you need help with reading comprehension, let me know. :eyes:

[dsc]

17. I agree with you on the graduation but strongly disagree on the honor roll

Some kids don't have a whole lot else than smarts and they deserve recognition for it from an early age. Take out smarts and music and I was close to a waste of space in elementary school. Athletics were a disaster for me and I wasn't a budding Tom Cruise.

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. I believe every kid in elementary school should make the honor roll

It's not that hard to do if you just show up every day and do your homework.

[Hippo_Tron]

31. Prom? I wouldn't talk to girls in 5th grade let alone dance with them

[GrumpyGreg]

9. You seem to be making a mountain out of a molehill-----relax a bit.

I have a grandughter that age and when I left 5th grade it was 1944----nothing wrong with a little patriotism.

[Guaranteed]

11. Not making a mountain of it. It was just a song.

But I did think it was a poor choice and evidence of a national trend.

Further, there is something wrong with patriotism at inappropriate times. Awhile back I read a post by somebody where someone started playing the Star-Spangled Banner at a pool party, of all places. Everyone stopped and stood up, took off their hats out of respect. Uhhh...why? Since when is a pool party a time for reflection on our country?

[Dorian Gray]

24. I don't know if it's a new trend

When I graduated from 8th grade in the mid 1980s, we all sang patriotic songs at our ceremony, too. We'd also start ANY assembly in our grammar school with a patriotic song. This is nothing new. (And I grew up in New Jersey, if that gives any perspective.)

[treestar]

47. IA, at other times, like when I was a kid, it wouldn't mean much

and would just be typical (though we didn't have graduations for those grades, so I forget why we were singing them) - it's the current cultural climate, with "patriotism" and "support for right wing nuthead Republicans" being confused - that has it as bothersome here.

We used to have to sing our state song, too! "Our Delaware." What a hilarious song that is! No one sings it today, though!

[LibDemAlways]

12. 5th graders should not have to sing claptrap

like that at their little graduation ceremony. At my daughter's 5th grade graduation three years ago the kids sang a song to the tune of "California Girls" but with completely different lyrics. It was cute and age-appropriate. Whoever dragged faux patriotism into your niece's ceremony is an idiot.

As an aside, a couple of years ago my brother created his own version of "Proud to be an American." He called it "Proud to be a freeper" with such lines as "Want to see a dumbass..Take a look at me." That's what I think of when I hear that stupid song.

[Canuckistanian]

13. What is this, the "Sean Hannity Middle School"?

If so, then it's normal to substitute patriotism for actual thinking.

It's too bad that behavior has to be indoctrinated into 12 year olds.

[dsc]

18. My problem with that song would be the range

depending on key it goes up to a high G or high A. I am a first tenor and that is about as high as I can sing. For a typical kid this song would be murder.

[Berry Cool]

19. My problem would be with the lousy English and illogic

and I don't just mean "there ain't no doubt I love this land."

[seabeyond]

20. 6th grade orchestra played america the beautiful. they were

combined with other schools in the district and by the last song even the high school orchestra and they all played the song together. it was awesome. beautiful. brought tears to my eyes, for a number of reasons.

i dont have a problem kids having pride in our country. i do have issue with ignorance not allowing to see the truth as who we are as a nation. how we can be so much better. and what it will take to accomplish those things.

i hear what you say about national pride. but i dont have issue with schools and young children seeing songs about america.

[ThatsMyBarack]

21. I like GENUINE patriotism....

....Not the *-cheerleader type in which one can simply slap a yellow ribbon on an SUV and voila--instant Amurkin. :patriot:

[elehhhhna]

22. MY daughter won the "Tom Delay" Good CItizenship Award"...

I'm not making this up. 3 years ago. This year our youngest "graduated" 5th grade and won the "President Bush" something or other "Award of Excellence". SO quit beefing. At least your niece DIDN'T bring home "Awards" signed by CRIMINALS!

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. LOL

That's bad. :rofl:

[dsc]

29. Oh man

I just can't imagine a Tom Delay citizenship award and a Bush excellence award. That would be like having a Wilt Chamberlin abstenence award.

[EFerrari]

32. Make sure you save them. They'll be worth big money on EBay

someday.

:rofl:

[elehhhhna]

49. we're thinking post-conviction sales for maximum value. yes?

[EFerrari]

50. Definitely!

lol

[Hippo_Tron]

35. LOL that's too funny

I believe there's a picture of your daughter's award in the dictionary. It's right next to the definition of irony.

[Hekate]

53. Be sure to hang on to those! Someday,when the kids are adults & have a fine sense of irony...

...those eponymous awards can be put in the family album next to the headlines about the indictments and impeachment of DeLay and Bush.

Unbelievable.

Hekate

[Dorian Gray]

23. At my grammar school

graduation we sang both The Star Spangled Banner and America, The Beautiful. I honestly don't see a problem with this.

[EFerrari]

33. Why not sing a song celebrating teachers or learning or

schools or community? Why go straight to nationalism?

It gives kids the fake impression that they owe something to the state when in reality, the state couldn't exist with them. :shrug:

[Hippo_Tron]

34. We sang Fifty Nifty United States at my fifth grade graduation

We'd been watching the fifth graders do it since we were in kindergarten and they had probably been doing it long before that as well. I don't know what the original intention was, but by the time my class did it, it was certainly more about tradition than about patriotism.

[ellisonz]

36. Just like Jesus Camp...

[Stuckinthebush]

37. The American educational experience was developed for this...

The system was developed to mimic the Prussian model as much as possible (albeit not as successful). It was accepted that one of the main functions of education was to instill a sense of patriotism and love of one's country. While we have moved away from saying this directly, the framework is still there. What is the use of the pledge of allegiance in schools? Is it related to education in any way? No...but constant recitation of the pledge has the same effect as constant recitation of the Apostle's Creed. Once it is ingrained, it is difficult to question.

You still hear people say, "Well, America is the greatest country on earth and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else because no where else has the freedoms we enjoy." In fact I heard this a few months ago from my father in law. It is bullshit, but it is a statement imprinted on students from day 1.

So, as for the 5th grade ceremony, I'm not surprised that I'm proud to be and American was sung with gusto and some probably had tears running down their faces. Interesting isn't it?

[iamthebandfanman]

38. i think its funny uve just realised

i think it happened to you while you were in school too...

i know it happened to me...

i think its always been that way ?

i remember reciting the pledge(everyday) and singing patriotic songs(depending on the time of the year).

its really not that unusual and i dont think it ever has been?

[rucky]

39. You should've shouted out some requests:

Hollaback Girl is a 5th-grade favorite. Or maybe "Walk it out". they would've dug that one.

After all, it's THEIR graduation.

[1932]

40. At times when it's hard to be proud to be an American, state institutions need to do things like

this, or else people would start to think for themselves.

[dysfunctional press]

41. did it look/feel anything like this...?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfe_priSPaI

[rug]

43. That looks like Voldemort took over Hogswart.

[rug]

42. I went to the circus Thursday night.

It began with a clown holding the flag leading the crowd in the national anthem.

[loudestchick]

44. Just like at a Shrub press conference?

[rug]

45. Indeed. The funny thing is they were shoveling elephant shit into a wheel barrow at the same time.

[TheWatcher]

52. That vision just about sums up what America has become.

Total Crystallization.

[in_cog_ni_to]

51. I've never heard of a fifth-grade graduation. I wonder when they started doing those?

Our school district doesn't have them. Anyway...I'm with you on "there's a time and place for patriotism" and a fifth-grade graduation is hardly the place.